“The documents show that Google has imposed strict restrictions on device makers that want access to its search engine, YouTube or the more than one million apps in its Play Store,” Winkler reports. “In return, the device makers must feature other Google apps and set Google search as the default for users, according to the agreements. European antitrust authorities are examining those conditions, among others, as they consider whether Google has abused Android’s position as the leading smartphone operating system. In Europe, companies with dominant market share are required to promote competition, said Ioannis Lianos, a professor at University College London who studies competition law.”

“There is no such requirement in the U.S., and experts said it would be difficult to show that Google’s Android stance has violated antitrust rules. But it conflicts with Google’s rhetoric,” Winkler reports. “‘One of the greatest benefits of Android is that it fosters competition at every level of the mobile market—including among application developers,’ Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt wrote to then-U.S. Senator Herb Kohl in 2011.”

“Google also exercises control over device makers through the Open Handset Alliance, which counts 84 members, according to its website,” Winkler reports. “The European Commission last year began studying whether Google’s Android distribution practices run afoul of antitrust rules. The commission’s top antitrust cop, Joaquín Almunia, said last week that it will shift its focus to Android now that it has reached a settlement with Google over its search practices.”

There may be drawbacks and rules, but I don’t see how it could have anything to do with “monopoly” considerations.

Just because you are popular and have over 50% of a given market doesn’t make you a monopolist. Don’t you have to control the supply and demand of other related products and companies to be a monopoly?

Apple doesn’t license its OS. It can’t make exclusive deals with anyone. It can’t threaten to withhold OS X if an OEM wants to use another OS as well.

So, you have Coca-Cola: They are probably more a monopolist than Apple could ever be… they have exclusive deals with all McDonald’s restaurants worldwide, and vending machine deals with schools, for example.

But Apple can’t get in trouble for selling only Apple devices in its own Apple Stores! Even if 99% of all people decide to buy one.